Electrical connector



ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Filed Jan. 25, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet l FIG.

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BY SIDNEY GERHARD ymfi ffizh dill S. GERHARD ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Jan.27, 1970 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 25, 1968 S] DNEY GERHARD 5 h THE. Eby E A 0 m: MQ NE m8 0& m3 N9 QE 0: 08 mm WWW www ,W/ w .H www v v S.GERHARD Jan. 27, I970 ELECTRICAL commcwon 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan.25, 1968 m3 mom IUWMHHWWHWWMN.

Nmm 3mm QM Sm m \wm INVENTOR. SIDNEY GERHARD QR MMQ ATTORNEY UnitedStates Patent 3,492,630 ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Sidney Gerhard, Norwalk,Conn., assignor to Burndy Corporation, a corporation of New York FiledJan. 25, 1968, Ser. No. 700,449 Int. Cl. H01r 11/20 U.S.- Cl. 339-100 12Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE For establishing electricalconnections with electrical cables which are formed of an outerinsulating jacket surrounding a central conductive core of highlyductile metal, the electrical connectors of this invention are providedwith threaded means for engaging the insulating jacket and cooperatingthreaded contact means which axially advance a contact member into thecentral conductive core of ductile metal. O-rings and washers are usedfor sealing purposes between cooperating members and for retainingcontact members in their assembled positions. Interference-fit betweencooperating parts is also used for sealing purposes to prevent escape ofthe ductile core material which is displaced on penetration by theaxially advanced contact members.

This invention relates generally to electrical connections andconnectors, and specifically to electrical connectors which are adaptedfor use with electrical cable of the type which comprises a core ofhighly ductile conductive material such as sodium, encased within atubular insulating jacket of strong flexible material such ascommercially available polyethylene.

Sodium conductor cables are of significant interest to the electricalpower industry because the metal offers electrical characteristicscomparable to the more commonly used copper and aluminum conductors, atsubstantially lower cost. It is known, however, that certain otherphysical characteristics of sodium and similar conductive metals differsubstantially from those of the standard cable conductors.

Sodium, for example, is characterized by a high degree of chemicalreactivity with air and water. The high ductility of the metal causes itto behave in a pseudofluid manner in response to unbalanced forces. And,the relatively low tensile strength of the material makes it a generallypoor structural element.

As used herein the term sodium conductor refers to an electricalconductor of the type more fully described in US. Patents 3,333,049 and3,333,050. The term sodium is illustrative of other alkali metals asexplained in the aforementioned references. The term ductile as usedherein is meant to characterize the physical characteristics of thesepseudo-fluid metals to distinguish them from the permanently deformableelectrically conductive metals such as copper or aluminum.

It has been found that many of the previously used connection andconnector techniques for standard electrical conductors are not readilyadaptable to conductor materials which cannot be welded, soldered,crimped or physically clamped in any manner. The establishment ofelectrical connections to cables of the sodium conductor type is furthercomplicated by the necessity for protecting the conductor from exposureto air, water, and other reactive elements.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an electricalconnector which can establish a firm, positive electrical connectionwith the ductile metal conductor of an electrical cable.

A further object of this invention is to provide an elec- "ice tricalconnector which effectively seals the exposed end of a cable, to whichit is applied, against exposure to reactive elements.

Further objects of this invention are directed generally towardproviding reliable, inexpensive, and easily applied connectors andconnection techniques for establishing secure electrical and mechanicalcontacts with an electrical cable having a conductor formed ofrelatively ductile material.

Features of this invention include the use, in an electrical connector,of a ferrule member, a collet member, and an electrical contact memberadapted to axially penetrate the ductile metal core of an electricalcable. The contact member is mounted within a central bore in the colletmember; the collet member is provided with a threaded portion whichmates with a cooperating threaded portion on the ferrule member so thatthe collet may be axially advanced relative to the ferrule by rotationof one relative to the other; and the ferrule is provided with a secondthreaded portion which is adapted to axially engage the inner or outersurface of the insulating jacket of an electrical cable to secure theferrule thereto.

These and other objects, features, and advantages of this invention willbe distinctly and specifically pointed out in the attached claims, andwill be more fully disclosed and explained in the followingspecification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a partial, exploded, longitudinal section view of anelectrical connector formed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a complete longitudinal section view, showing the connector ofFIG. 1 assembled, and coupled to an electrical conductor;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section view of an electrical splice connectorformed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 4 is a partial, longitudinal section view of another form ofelectrical connector constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 5 is a partially sectioned longitudinal plan view of two elementsof another form of electrical connector constructed in accordance withthis invention; and

FIG. 6' is a longitudinal section view showing an electrical connectorincorporating the elements of FIG. 5, and coupled to an electricalcable.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, it may be seen that theelectrical connector of FIGURES 1 and 2 comprises a ferrule body member10, a collet member 12, and an electrical contact member 14. Anelectrical cable 16 having an outer insulating jacket 18 and a centralcore 20, is shown in FIG. 1 to illustrate the relative positionsoccupied by the cable and the elements of the connector. The collet 12is provided with a central contact-receiving bore 22 which is adapted toreceive tubular portion 24 of contact 14. The contact element 14 isfurther provided with an annular groove 26 which is adapted to receive aretaining ring 28 after tubular portion 24 has been inserted throughbore 22. The retaining ring 28 is provided with an outer diametergreater than the inner diameter of bore 22 so as to prevent axialwithdrawal of the contact 14 from the bore 22.

Ferr-ule body member 10 includes a central opening 30 which is providedwith an internal threaded portion 32. Collet member 12 is provided withan externally threaded portion 34 adapted to mate with internal threads32 in the ferrule. As shown, the threads on these two elements may betapered relative to one another in the manner of pipe threads or similarthreaded parts, to produce a wedging action as the two parts arethreaded together. To assure firm, peripheral engagement between collet12 and ferrule 10 when the two parts are threaded together, the centralopening in ferrule may be pro vided with a reduced diameter portion 36which forms a rearward facing shoulder 38 within the opening. Shoulder38 is provided to firmly engage forward surface 40 of collet 12 when thecollet and the ferrule have been fully engaged. Forward surface portion40 may be provided with a recess 42, as shown, for receiving ring 28, tofacilitate engagement between surface 40 and shoulder 38, free ofinterference.

Ferrule 10 is further provided with an external threaded portion 44 atthe forward end thereof. The helical threads of portion 44 may be ofsharp or edged configuration so that they may engage the inner surfaceof cable insulating jacket 18 in substantially self-tappingrelationship. While helical threads are shown for illustrative purposesobviously other shapes may be utilized to engage ferrule 10 and thejacket 18. In addition annular ridges may be provided between the end ofthread 44 and shoulder 60. Advancing threads 44 into the end of thecable pulls the annular ridges into the cable and the cable insulationmay be deformed around the ridges, griping them tightly and additionallysealing the helical path for-med by the threads to direct access fromoutside the body. The outermost diameter 46 of ferrule 10 may be madesubstantially equal to the outer diameter of insulating jacket 18 sothat the cable and ferrule will form a smooth joint of substantiallyuniform diameter when assembled together. Accordingly, threaded portion44 may, in a preferable form be of lesser diameter than outer diameter46 of ferrule 10.

FIGURE 2 illustrates how the elements shown in FIG. 1 appear whenassembled together in operative relationship. In FIG. 2, contact element14 may be seen to include a substantially flattened tail portion 48which is provided with an aperture 50 for securing to a bolt or similarexternal electrical terminal. It may be seen from the drawings thatcontact element 14 is rotatable within contact receiving bore 22 incollet 12. As a result of this construction, the angular orientation offlat surface 48 may be changed conveniently, relative to a longitudinalaxis through the cable 16; this feature is particularly advantageouswhen used in combination with relatively tough, stiff cable which cannotbe bent or twisted easily into proper positions for coupling to fixedterminal connectors.

The tapering of threads 32 on ferrule 10 relative to threads 34 oncollet 12, previously mentioned, serves a twofold purpose: It providesfirst for retention and sealing between the collet 12 and ferrule 10,and second, the wedging action which the taper produces, applies radialforces to collet 12 tending to constrict the diameter of contactreceiving bore 22 into engagement with body portion 24 of contact 14.Constriction in this manner offers improved sealing engagement betweenthe collet and the contact. Still further sealing between collet 12 andferrule 10 is accomplished by the abutting relationship of colletsurface 40 and ferrule shoulder 38, as previously described.

While the contact element 14 should be manufactured of an electricallyconductive metal such as copper, the ferrule 10 and collet 12 may bemanufactured of any suitable material. It has been found desirable toutilize poly-sulfone plastics in making these elements although otherplastic, insulating or metallic elements are suitable.

In use, the connector of FIGURES 1 and 2 would be assembled to cable 16as follows:

The bevelled end 54 at the forward end of threaded portion 44 on ferrule10 would be inserted into the cut end of cable 16 between outerinsulating jacket 18 and central core 20. To facilitate this initialinsertion the core material at the cut end of cable 16 may be preshapedas shown at 52 in FIGURE 1, by any suitable shaping means. A novelmethod of accomplishing this preshaping has been achieved. Compressionforces are applied about the end of the conductor 16 compressing theflexible cable jacket 18 so as to extrude and shape the ductile metal 20and releasing the compression force allowing the jacket to return to itsinitial shape providing a space between the core 20 and the innerdiameter of jacket 18. Following the initial insertion, ferrule 10 maybe ro tated relative to cable 16 so that self-tapping threads 44 engagethe inner surface of jacket 18 and advance the ferrule relative to thecable until the cut end 56 of the cable abuts against shoulder 60 on theferrule. Then, collet 12, with contact element 14 assembled thereto aspreviously described, may be engaged with threads 32 in ferrule 10 andadvanced until the collet 12 is fully seated within the ferrule 10. Atthat point, forward contact portion 62 on contact element 14 will havebeen embedded into the ductile core material 20 of cable 16 as a resultof the advance of collet 12 relative to ferrule 10 which is fixed inposition relative to cable 16. In addition core material 20 may beextruded beyond end 56 of the conductor 16 ensuring better contact dueto the greater surface area of core material 20 and contact portion 62being in contact. A durable, convenient, sealed, and positive electricalconnection between conductor material 20 and contact element 14 willthus have been established.

FIGURE 3 illustrates a splice connector for joining together the ends oftwo ductile-core conductor cables in accordance with this invention. Ingeneral conformity with the concepts described relative to FIGURES l and2, this connector may be seen to comprise a pair of ferrule body membersand 111, a contact collet member 112, and an elongate conductive contactmember 114. The ferrule members 110 and 111 include forward threadedportions 144 and 144 adapted to engage the inner diameter of cables 116and 116' and are provided with outer diameter portions 146 and 146"which are substantially equal to the outer diameter of cables 116 and116. Collet member 112 includes a first threaded portion 134 adapted toengage the interior threaded portion 132 in first ferrule member 110,and also includes a second threaded portion adapted to engage theinterior threaded portion 132' in the second ferrule member 111. So thatthe collet member 112 may be simultaneously engaged to both ferrules110, 111, in the direction of the helical threads on threaded portions134 and 135 may be reversed relative to one another, with the threadedportions 134 in each of ferrules 110, 111, differing correspondingly.Then, rotation of collet member 112 in only one direction rela. tive toferrules 110 and 111 will cause the threaded portions in each to engagesimultaneously. To further facilitate coupling of collet member 112 toferrules 110 and 111, the collet may be provided with a plurality ofperipheral wrench flats 166 which will allow the collet to be engagedconveniently by any standard wrench or similar tool. And, to precludedisengagement of the ferrules from the connected cable during rotationof the collet member into the ferrules, the cable-engaging threads 144and 144 on ferrules 110, 111 may be reversed relative to each other asare interior threaded portions 132 and 132'. The rotational forcestransmitted to the ferrules by engagement of collet 112 will then tendto rotate the ferrules in the direction of engagement, rather thandisengagement, with cable 116 and 116'. Gripping of the cable jackets118 and 118' by threaded portions 144 and 144 of ferrules 110, 111 maybe improved by tapering the threads relative to the inner diameter ofthe cables shown.

In this embodiment, the collet 112 and ferrules 110, 111 are providedwith cooperating, abutting, sealing shoulders 138, and 140', 138'respectively. Shoulders 138 and 138 may be seen to be rearwardly-facing,inwardly-tapered annular surfaces formed on ferrules 110, 111.Cooperating shoulders 1'40 and 140' on collet 112 are annular surfacesof curvilinear cross section which mate with tapered surfaces 138 toproduce substantially linear, peripheral contact between the two parts.Additional sealing between the two parts may be provided,

as in the case of the embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2, byproviding for a tapered relationship between threads 134, 135 and innerthreaded portions 132 and 132'.

The collet member 112 in this embodiment, as in the embodiment ofFIGURES 1 and 2, may be seen to include a central contact receiving bore122 in which the elongate contact element 114 is positioned. A reduceddiameter portion 142 within the bore 122 engages a mating groove 126 incontact element 114 to retain the contact within the bore. In thisrespect, portion 142 corresponds in function to recess 42 in theembodiment of FIG. 1, in providing a peripheral shoulder whichcooperates with the retaining means (groove 126) on contact element 114to retain the contact within the contactreceiving bore 122. Obviouslyother means for retaining contact element 114 within bore 122 may beutilized.

FIGURE 3 further illustrates an additional sealing element in the formof tubular outer sleeve 168 which is telescopically disposed about theoutermost surfaces of the completed splice connection. This sleeve maybe in the form of the material commonly known as shrink-fit" tubing. Thesleeve, having an original inner diameter somewhat larger than the outerdiameters of the cables 116 and 116' and ferrule portions 146 and 146'may then be slipped over the end of one of the cables prior toestablishment of the connection, and then slipped back over the ferrulesand the ends of the cables after the connection has been completed.Heating of the tubing in the conventional manner, subsequent to itsproper positioning over the completed connection, will then cause it toshrink into secure, sealing engagement with the outer surfaces of bothcables and both ferrules.

In the embodiment of this invention illustrated in FIG. 4, the colletmember 212 is provided with the internally threaded portion 234. Ferrulemember 210 includes a first threaded portion 244 for engaging the innerdiameter of cable insulating jacket 218, and a second externallythreaded portion 232, for engaging the internally threaded portion 234on collet member 212. The collet member is provided with a centralcontact receiving bore 222 in the rearward end, and the inner surface ofthe collet 212 circumjacent the bore forms a retaining shoulder whichcooperates with ring 228 to provide means for retaining contact element214- within the bore. In the manner similar to that illustrated in theembodiment of FIGURES 1 and 2, retaining ring 228 is removably engagedWithin an annular groove 226 in the main body portion 224 of contact214.

After attachment of ferrule 210 to the cable jacket, contact 214 ispushed through supporting and aligning bore 272 of ferrule 210 byadvancing collet 212 on threads 234. Face 242 of collet 1 bears on therear face of retaining ring 228 which in turn pushes against the frontface of retaining ring groove 226, thereby advancing the contact 214into the core material. As the contact 214 penetrates the core, corematerial is displaced along the contact and captured by inner surface273 of ferrule 210. Air originally within volume 264 is vented betweencontact 214 and bore 272, and escapes from the assembly between threads232 and 234. After sufiicient engagement between contact 224 and corematerial has been achieved, sealing grommet 239 is captured between face238 of ferrule 210 and face 242 of collet 212. This deforms the grommet,forcing it into firm engagement with the two faces and with the body 224of contact 214.

It is further noted that the exterior diameter 246 of ferrule 210, asshown in FIG. 4, is somewhat larger than the original outer diameter ofcable 216, but it should be understood that this is by way ofillustration only. The outer diameters of the ferrule, and the collet,and the cable jacket may be made equal to one another, in thisembodiment as well as in those previously described, to attain theresultant advantages derivable from that structure.

FIGURES 5 and 6 illustrate still another embodiment of this invention inwhich the main body portion 324 of an elongate conductive contactelement 314 is provided with a plurality of projecting annular ridges329 and the collet member 312 is formed of a material sufficientlyflexible to permit insertion of the contact element 314 together withprojections 329 into contact receiving bore 322. The inner diameter ofthe contact receiving bore 322 is preferably smaller than the outermostdiameter of projecting ridges 329 so that upon insertion of the contactinto the bore a secure peripheral seal is achieved between the innerdiameter of the bore and the contact element. The complete connector inthis embodiment further includes a ferrule body member 310 which isprovided with an internally threaded portion 332 for engaging theexternal threads 334 on collet member 312. The radially restrictiveforces imposed on collet member 312 as it is threaded into ferrule 310will tend to overcome any deformation of the collet member produced byinsertion of ridges 329 on contact element 314, thereby further assuringfirm peripheral engagement between the inner diameter of contactreceiving bore 322 and contact element 314. Alternatively, one or aplurality of peripheral internal rotating shoulders 342 may be formed inthe inner surface of contact receiving bore 322 prior to insertion ofcontact element 314. Such shoulders might permit easier insertion ofcontact element 314 and would facilitate preliminary positioning of thecontact element relative to the collet. However, the functioning of theperipheral ridges 329 for sealing and retention purposes between thecontact and the collet following assembly of the collet into the ferrulewould not be substantially different.

The collet member 312 of this embodiment is further shown to include aportion of increased diameter 323 at the rearward end of contactreceiving bore 322. This increased diameter bore portion which surroundsbody portion 324' of contact element 314 may be filled with any suitablesealing material such as moldable silicone rubber to provide improvedsealing between collet member 312 and body 324 of contact member 314. Asecond increased diameter portion 321 of diameter greater than portion323 may be provided in addition, to facilitate filling of portion 323with a suitable sealing material.

In this embodiment as in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3 an outersleeve 368 is shown encasing the completed connection extending from theend of cable insulating jacket 318, over the outer surface of ferrulebody member 310, and covering the upper portion of collet member 312 andpart of the extending terminal portion 348 of contact element 314. Thesleeve is shown fitted to the various outer dimensions of the parts ofthe connector as could be accomplished by means of shrinkfit tubing aspreviously described. Although the cable jacket and various connectorelements are shown as having differing external dimensions, it isunderstood that in this embodiment as in all other embodiments describedand included within the scope of this specification, may be constructed,conveniently, so as to provide'a single, given external diameter inaccordance with the features and the advantages to be derived from suchstructure.

In each of the embodiments which have been described in thisspecification, it may be seen that the ferrule body member 310 isarranged to provide a cavity portion, such as shown at 64 in FIGURE 1,which extends beyond the cut end of the cable when the ferrule has beenassembled to the cable jacket. This feature is particularly advantageousin applications involving ductile metal core cables in which the ductilemetal will necessarily be extruded beyond the normal end of the cable inresponse to insertion of elements such as the threaded portion of theferrules and the projecting contact portions of the contact elementswhich have been described. By providing such a cavity for receiving thedisplaced core material this invention avoids the possibility of escapeof the core material by avoiding the development of uncontrolledcompressive forces upon the core during assembly of the connector to thecable end.

Generally, the proportions of contact and ferrule are so arranged thatthe entire volume within the ferrule is filled by the displaced corematerial. Air which is initially contained therein may be vented throughclearances between the threads. This also insures good area contactbetween the contact element and conductor core. This extrusion of thecore material provides an additional advantage because when the cableend contacts air the core material reacts with oxygen and water vapor,significantly increasing the electrical resistance of the surfacerelative to that resistance of the non-reacting material in the core. Byextrusion of the core virgin metal is placed in area contact with thecontact element improving the electrical characteristics of theconnection.

This invention has thus been described but it is desired to beunderstood that it is not confined to the particular forms or usagesshown and described, the same being merely illustrative, and that theinvention may be carried out in other ways without departing from thespirit of the invention, therefore, the right is broadly claimed toemploy all equivalent or the means by which objects of this inventionare attained and new results accomplished, as it is obvious that theparticular embodiments herein shown and described are only some of themany that can be employed to obtain these objects and accomplish theseresults.

What is claimed is:

1. An electrical connector adapted to be electrically coupled to the endof an electrical cable having a homogeneous central core of highlyductile conductive material enclosed within an insulating jacket, saidconnector comprising:

a ferrule body member having an opening therethrough, a threaded portionfor securing a cable insulating jacket thereto, and a screw-threadedfastener means thereon for engaging a cooperating collet member;

a collet member having a cooperating screw-threaded fastener meansengaging the said fastener means on said ferrule body member foradvancing said collet member axially relative to said ferrule bodymember;

said collet member further including a contact-receiving boretherethrough having a shoulder associated therewith;

an elongate electrical contact member disposed within saidcontact-receiving bore and having an extending contact portionprojecting from said contact-receiving bore;

and retention means on said electrical contact member cooperating withsaid shoulder on said collet member for limiting relative longitudinalmotion between said contact member and said collet member as said colletmember is advanced relative to said ferrule body member;

wherein the said screw-threaded fastener means on said ferrule memberand on said collet member are tapered relative to one another to producewedging action as the two are progressively engaged.

2. An electrical connector in accordance with claim 1, wherein saidconnector includes an interior bore portion adapted to form a receivingchamber extending from the end of an electrical cable coupled to saidferrule body member, for receiving central core material displaced fromwithin the insulating jacket of said cable upon in sertion of saidcontact member into said core.

3. An electrical connector in accordance with claim 1, wherein saidthreaded portion on said ferrule member is tapered outwardly from oneend thereof toward the other, producing wedging action as the insulatingjacket of an electrical cable is threadedly engaged therewith.

4. An electrical connector in accordance with claim 1, wherein the saidretention means on said contact member includes: an annular grooveformed in said contact member; and, a flexible locking ring engaged insaid groove forming an outwardly extending peripheral shoulder on saidcontact member.

5. An electrical connector in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said screw-threaded fastener means on said ferrule body member comprisesan internal screw-thread formed within the said opening through saidferrule body member; the said cooperating screw-threaded fastener meanson said collet member comprises an external screw-thread; saidelectrical contact member includes a projecting annular ridge thereonperipherally engaging said collet member;

and the screw-threaded fastener means on said collet member and thescrew-threaded fastener means on said ferrule member are taperedrelative to one another for producing wedging action tending toconstrict the diameter of said contact-receiving bore into engagementwith said contact member as said collet member is advanced relative tosaid ferrule member.

6. An electrical connector in accordance with claim 5, wherein saidcontact-receiving bore in said collet member includes a mating annulargroove in the inner surface thereof interlocking with the said annularridge on said contact member.

7. An electrical connector adapted to be electrically coupled to the endof an electrical cable having a homogeneous central core of highlyductile conductive material enclosed within an insulating jacket, saidconnector comprising:

a ferrule body member having an opening therethrough, a threaded portionfor securing a cable insulating jacket thereto, and a fastener meansthereon for engaging a cooperating collet member;

a collet member having a cooperating fastener means engaging the saidfastener means on said ferrule body member for advancing said colletmember axially relative to said ferrule body member;

said collet member further including a contact-receiving boretherethrough having a shoulder associated therewith;

an elongate electrical contact member disposed within saidcontact-receiving bore and having an extending contact portionprojecting from said contact-receiving bore;

and retention means on said electrical contact member cooperating withsaid shoulder on said collet member for limiting relative longitudinalmotion between said contact member and said collet member as said colletmember is advanced relative to said ferrule body member;

wherein said ferrule body member and said collet member each includescooperating annular sealing-shoulders positioned to meet insubstantially abutting relationship when said ferrule and said colletmember are engaged together.

8. An electrical connector in accordance with claim 7, wherein saidcooperating sealing-shoulders comprise at least one annular surface ofcurvilinear cross-section and a mating annular surface which producesannular linecontact in engagement with said surface of curvilinearcross-section.

9. An electrical connector in accordance with claim 7, wherein saidconnector further includes a grommet of sealing material interposedbetween said cooperating annular sealing-shoulders, in circumferentialengagement with said contact member, in position for compression betweensaid sealing-shoulders when said ferrule member and said contact memberare brought together.

10. An electrical connector in accordance with claim 7,

wherein said electrical contact member is rotatably mounted to saidcollet member within said contact-receiving bore.

11. An electrical connector in accordance with claim 10, wherein saidcontact-receiving bore in said collet member includes an enlargeddiameter portion at one end thereof, forming a sealing chambersurrounding said contact element, and said sealing chamber contains ayieldable sealing material forming a peripheral seal between saidcontact member and said collet member.

12. An electrical splice-connector adapted to electrically couple theends of a pair of electrical cables each having a central core of highlyductile conductive material enclosed within an outer insulating jacket,said spliceconnector comprising:

a first ferrule body member having an opening therethrough, a firstscrew-threaded portion thereon for securing the insulating jacket of acable thereto, and a second screw-threaded portion, having a givendirectional configuration, for engaging a mating contact collet member;

a second ferrule body member having an opening therethrough, a firstscrew-threaded portion thereon for securing the insulating jacket of acable thereto, and a second screw-threaded portion having a directionalconfiguration opposite to that of the second screw-threaded portion onsaid first ferrule body member, for engaging a mating contact colletmember;

a contact collet member having a first threaded portion of givendirectional configuration for threadedly engaging the said secondthreaded portion on said second ferrule body member;

said collet member further including a contact-receiving boretherethrough having a shoulder associated therewith;

an elongate electrical contact member disposed in said contact-receivingbore in said collet member and having a pair of oppositely disposedcontact portions extending from opposite ends of said contact-receivingbore;

and retention means on said contact member cooperating with saidshoulder in said collet member for limiting longitudinal relative motionbetween said electrical contact member and said collet member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 982,563 1/1911 Baird 339-3,090,937 5/1963 Keith ct al. 3392l7 3,345,453 10/ 1967 McNerney 174773,369,072 2/1968 Harris et al. 174-75 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,113,973 9/1961Germany.

612,213 11/1948 Great Britain.

MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner JOSEPH H. MCGLYNN, AssistantExaminer US. Cl. X.R. 174-75

